House File 2135 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY WIENCEK Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act establishing a violence prevention competitive grant 2 program administered by the department of education for school 3 districts to assist elementary school children and providing 4 an appropriation. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 5580YH 82 7 kh/sc/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 256.27 VIOLENCE PREVENTION GRANT 1 2 PROGRAM. 1 3 1. There is established a violence prevention grant 1 4 program administered by the department to provide competitive 1 5 grants to school districts to help elementary school children 1 6 feel cared for, safe, and connected to supportive institutions 1 7 and individuals. 1 8 2. In developing grant approval criteria, the department 1 9 shall place priority on whether applications meet the 1 10 following conditions: 1 11 a. Encourages development of and use of behavioral, 1 12 cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal competencies. 1 13 b. Provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to 1 14 nurturing children at home, at school, and in the community. 1 15 c. Provides for a safe, positive, and constructive 1 16 environment for children. 1 17 d. Demonstrates that the school district is able to 1 18 sustain the program after the grant is exhausted. 1 19 3. Activities supported by grants awarded pursuant to this 1 20 section may include but are not limited to violence prevention 1 21 curricula and counseling, student leadership activities, 1 22 mentoring, and positive interaction with law enforcement. 1 23 4. The department shall make every effort to award grants 1 24 to a balance of rural and urban school district programs. 1 25 Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION == VIOLENCE PREVENTION 1 26 GRANTS == APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the 1 27 general fund of the state to the department of education for 1 28 the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and ending June 30, 1 29 2009, the following amount, or so much thereof as is 1 30 necessary, to be used for the purposes designated: 1 31 For the violence prevention grant program established 1 32 pursuant to section 256.27, as enacted by this Act: 1 33 .................................................. $ 200,000 1 34 EXPLANATION 1 35 This bill establishes a violence prevention grant program 2 1 administered by the department of education to provide 2 2 competitive grants to school districts to help elementary 2 3 school children feel cared for, safe, and connected to 2 4 supportive institutions and individuals. The bill 2 5 appropriates $200,000 to the department for FY 2008=2009 for 2 6 the program. 2 7 The bill directs the department to develop grant approval 2 8 criteria that places priority on whether applications meet 2 9 specified conditions and to make every effort to award grants 2 10 to a balance of rural and urban school district programs. 2 11 Activities supported by grant moneys awarded may include but 2 12 are not limited to violence prevention curricula and 2 13 counseling, student leadership activities, mentoring, and 2 14 positive interaction with law enforcement. 2 15 LSB 5580YH 82 2 16 kh/sc/8